Ostaran Times

[Hadash]

Ostaran Times

---

---

Hôinôm: Harsh sentences against 1590 coup conspirators
By: Muong Quang Viên
Published: Fein, 1597


Former Lieutenant-Colonel Phan Dùc Vinh was also sentenced to death.

---

After one of the largest trials in recent Hoinomese history, which lasted almost ten months, the High Court of Hôi Luỳên read the sentences against those accused to plan and participate in te 1590 coup d'etat, which aimed to depose the Hoinomese government in the middle of a civil war. While the coup was successful in Hôi Luỳên, it failed both to depose government forces in other provinces -including Nam Dinh, were Empress Hông resided at the time- and the end the civil war, which was prolongued until following Tieguonese intervention. More than twenty accused were sentenced to serious charges including high treason, conspiracy against the state, war crimes, embezzlement, or conspiracy with a foreign government while only five of the accused were declared not guilty of the charges.

But the trial has been historical event in the Imperial Kingdom of Hôinôm mostly because it was the first time that military leadership and members of the Royal House -as Prince Lâm Thành Thuân and Princess Lâm Thu Tuyêt, who are Empress Hông's cousins- faced a trial. The verdict was certainly awaited, although there was more expectation about the future of the two members of the Hoinomese royal house facing the court, that in the result in itself. Much of the defences were often focused on putting the blame on late General Lê Công Thuân -who reportedly died following the Battle of Hôi Luỳên in early 1595- than denying some of the charges pending on them.

Six accused were sentenced to death, including General Kiêu Công Trai, who was considered the second highest ranking official in the regime established after the 1590 after General Lê, and Prince Lâm Thành Thuân, who becomes the first member of the Royal House to be sentenced to death at least since the restoration of the monarchy in early 16th century. Three of the other accused sentenced to death are also military officers, while the sixth is Nghiêm Vàn Minh, who served as de facto head of government in Hôi Luỳên from 1591 to 1594.

Other ten accused were sentenced to life imprisonment. Princess Lâm Thu Tuyêt was sentenced to 20 years in prison while her husband James Lloyd-Jones, a Goldecian national, was sentenced to 15 years and 10 months in prison. The rest of the accused received minor prison sentences. While the trial sentences must be confirmed by the High Court -also known as Imperial Court-, it is expected that it is not likely that it will be major changes in the final sentences.

The future of the accused sentenced, specially those facing death penalty, is uncertain, and there has been several rumours, still unconfirmed, that Empress Hông may pardon, completely or partially, at least the two members of the Royal House, or the two foreign nationals -besides the Goldecian national, a Mayari national was also sentenced. Prime Minister Quân Công Trai has declared that the government denies any conversation with the monarch regarding this possibility, although it would "discourage such decision and hopes the accused serve their sentence as any other Hoinomese citizen would", it is a constitutional competence of the monarch to do.